Friday, June 28, 2013
YOUNGSTOWN
Los Gallos Authentic Mexican Restaurant and Sports Cantina is considering a deal to open its seventh location in downtown Youngstown at the site of the former Cafe Cimmento.
Though a manager of the Boardman-based company confirmed the project Thursday, company owner Israel Zambrano denied a deal is imminent to open at the downtown location at 120 E. Boardman St.
“Nothing has been finalized, and unfortunately our general manager misspoke,” Zambrano told The Vindicator on Thursday .
“When we have an announcement to make it is done through the proper channels ... Until you receive information through this channel nothing is final or even going to happen.”
It would be the only Mexican restaurant in the city’s downtown business district.
Lou Frangos — whose company, USA Parking Systems Inc., owns the Plaza Parking Deck on East Boardman Street, where Los Gallos is looking to locate — said a deal isn’t final, but one is close.
“Nothing is official yet, but we hope it happens,” Frangos said. “They’d be a great addition to the location. They’re a good fit. They know what they’re doing, and they’re good operators of their business. We expect to finalize something shortly.”
Cafe Cimmento, which first opened in 2006, closed in April with the owner, George Mager, saying the abundance of new restaurants downtown in recent years was a large factor in his decision. He also is nearing retirement and no one else in his family wanted to take over the business.
“We had a lot of people interested in that location,” Frangos said. “This will be a good fit.”
T. Sharon Woodberry, the city’s director of economic development, said Los Gallos would be “a nice addition to downtown. It offers diversity in terms of food. I hope it will be successful.”
Los Gallos opened its first restaurant in Boardman in 2004. The business then expanded to Bedford in Cuyahoga County. The other four Los Gallos restaurants are in the Mahoning Valley — Austintown, Struthers, Howland and North Lima.